1993 In an article in The Sporting Life, trainer Charlie Lister is asked what he would do if her were the NGRC Chief. His opening response: “All open-race trap draws must be made in public on racenights.”
1981 Bookmakers John Power admit to a £10,000 liability for the 1982 English Derby on recent Munster Puppy Cup winner Ron Hardy. The dog, who has joined Dublin based John Haynes, will accompany kennelmate Rahan Ship, winner of the Irish Leger and Cesarewitch.
1972 Sherrys Prince, just three months short of his fifth birthday wins a White City hurdles open by 14 lengths. Colin West’s brindle is the current track record holder for Hall Green 500H, Brighton 525H, Catford 420H, Harringay 525H, Wembley 525H, West Ham 525H, and White City 525H. He had broken his hock the previous year (above)
1972 Figures reveal that 2,174 open races staged the previous year, an 18% increase on 1970.
1984 A Romford graded race was declared void after a chair was thrown onto the track along the home straight.
1981 Decoy Boom wins the Longcross Cup at White City on January 24. It is her sixth race and third final of the new year following the Winter Stayers and Coronation Stakes. Her record is three wins and three seconds, and prize money of £1,045 (index linked to £3,900). The early start doesn’t appear to do her any harm, she goes on to win 24 of her 36 races during the year including six track records, £10,380 in prize money, a Greyhound of the Year title and is the major player in her carrot farming owner/trainer/breeder Joe Cobbold finishing the year as champion trainer.
2010 At the annual awards dinner GBGB chairman Maurice Watkin announces that new owners will not be charged for the first transfer of ownership.
1981 A Wembley hurdle open is decimated by withdrawals. Three runners eventually go to traps and the race is won by 1-6f Macky Tan trained by Irene McNally.
1970 Successful open race trainer ‘Bammy’ Bamford joins the Belle Vue training strength.
1985 A scheme to prevent the Irish Coursing Club going bust has raised £50,000 in the first month. Handling the administration of the loans is owner and breeder Michael Field.
1969 Kerry Long Ago, rated one of the best pups in training following wins in the Yorkshire Puppy Derby and Edinburgh Cup returns to Ireland to win a Coursing Derby Trialstake for owner Jack Mullan. The dog eventually returns to Britain but only wins a handful of races in his second season.
1950 Freddy Farey, one of the best known private trainers and handler of the 1946 Derby winner Mondays News is appointed as a Catford trainer.
1957 Walthamstow grader Seod An Fhile finally won after two years on the graded strength. By coincidence, he was the first winner for new trainer Jerry Gray.
1987 Wimbledon announce that they will race four nights a week from March due to the anticipated influx of dogs with the closure of Slough
2005 Walthamstow is re-shaped and the inside running rail replaced without losing a meeting. It is the first phase of a major reconstruction.
1984 Weekly publication Greyhound Owner admit to some ‘flexibility’ in their publication of track records. The problem came over the record for Derry’s 720 yard course which had been published for nearly 40 years as ‘Atomic Rebel – 40.96’. However following agreement with ICC secretary Joe Fitzpatrick that the time was ‘too fast’, the paper revised its record to a ‘best recent’ of 41.36 recorded by Ventry Guide. However, the alteration is queried by a reader who claims to have been present on the night and notes that Atomic Rebel had previously won over the distance in 41.18 and 41.26.
1972 Following a meeting with local owners and trainers, Oxford racing manager John Field refuses to sanction the installation of a Sumner hare to replace the drag hare currently in use. The procedure, which would include moving both sets of traps, the judge’s box and hare controller’s box, would cost an estimated £6,500.
1951 Racing is hit by major problems with fog. Dozens of meetings are cancelled and attendances plummet at those tracks who are able to race.
1949 Monmore stage a special 21st anniversary meeting. The highlight will be an open race worth £100 to the winner (index linked – £3,720).
1993 Henlow is burgled. Racing office equipment and wines and spirits worth £4,000 are taken.
2011 Honey Trampas produces a faultless display to win the Coronation Cup, though the final is overshadowed by a triple dead heat in a supporting 925 metre marathon open. The trio, all Westmead Hawk progeny, are Killishin Masai, Droopys Djokovic and and Ayamzagirl. A hastily arranged re-match proves less competitive with 5-2 outsider Djokovic winning by three lengths. Four races later, Ayamzagirl has her card marked for fighting in an open at Crayford.
TRIPLE DEAD HEAT. Left to right: Ayamzagirl (T5) Droopys Djokovic (T2) and Killishin Masai (T1) cross the winning line in unison as they complete the gruelling 925 metres open on Coronation Cup final night. Romford 19th January 2011
Pic: STEVE NASH
